Introduction to music
theory designed to teach the beginner to read, write, and understand the
symbols of music notation. The approach is equally suited to those with
no prior training in music as well as those who have learned to sing or
play without training in fundamentals. A creative approach in music reading
and listening to develop performance skills and proficiency in the language
of music as well as in the assimilation of factual information. The student
may re-register for the course in subsequent quarters as necessary until
the course objectives are completed. Lecture 3 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

This course exists
to provide the student who wishes to take courses in music theory with
the basic skills necessary to successfully take such a course. The four
semester sequence of Music theory (MUS 111, 112, 211, 212) is designed
for the music major but is also taken by some non-music majors who have
an interest in understanding the structures and materials with which music
is written. Most of the above mentioned, the student will have acquired
a basic musical knowledge (notation of pitch, rhythm, and basic musical
terms) as a by-product of class of individualized study on a particular
instrument "by ear" (without reference to written notation of music), or
have forgotten most of it. It is mostly for the student that the Fundamentals
of Music is offered; a pre-theory, developmental-type course.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES

None

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of
the course, the student will be able to:

gain a working knowledge
of the written notational symbols

acquire a very basic knowledge
of the piano and knowledge of how written musical notation relates to the
piano and vice-versa

develop an awareness of
the aural aspects of music (perception of pitch and rhythm) through learning
to sing pitches from written notation

clap rhythms from written
notation

write the notation of
a rhythm after it is played (to be done on an elementary level)

MAJOR TOPICS TO BE
INCLUDEDA. Reading
pitch names utilizing the treble and bass clefsB. The grand staffC. The ledger lines
and spacesD. Reading rhythmic
notation in all commonly used meter signaturesE. Rhythmic dictationF. Visual and aural
identification of simple and compound metersG. Aural recognition
of major and minor intervalsH. Introduction to
the piano keyboard and movement in all directions by whole and half stepsI. Familiarity with
basic musical termsJ. Scale formation
of major and minor scales utilizing all key signatureK. Circle of 5thsL. Introduction to
sight-singingOPTIONAL TOPICSA. Major
and Minor Key RelationshipsB. Intervals1. major and perfect2. minor3. diminished4. augmented5. modification of
intervals6. intervals above
Tonic Notes other than C7. intervals above
notes which cannot be tonics of major scales5/98